The layoffs are reportedly occurring in many different departments including manufacturing and sales

Research In Motion (RIM) has officially started laying off employees after suffering a huge quarterly financial loss and losing the smartphone race against the likes of Apple and Google.

RIM hasn't announced exactly how many layoffs have occurred or how many will occur, but many people are posting on RIM forums like Crackberry.com saying that the layoffs have begun.

The layoffs are reportedly occurring in many different departments including manufacturing and sales. It is said that severance packages are being offered to these employees.

"RIM has committed to achieving significant efficiencies and operating cost reductions over the course of this fiscal year," said Tenille Kennedy, RIM spokesperson. "Our financial target is to drive at least $1 billion in savings by the end of fiscal 2013. Head count reductions are part of this initiative."

Previous reports released last month indicated that RIM was looking to cut 2,000 jobs total during this time period. That is about 12 percent of RIM's 16,500 worldwide workforce. However, new reports are saying that RIM may cut as many as 6,000 jobs this round -- 36 percent of its global workforce.

RIM's layoffs and need for $1 billion in savings stems from a poor Q1 2012 financial report, which was a $125 million USD loss. Before that, the company lost market share to Apple's iPhone and Google's Android-powered phones. RIM's BlackBerry smartphones just couldn't compete, and even its BlackBerry PlayBook took a dive after release. But, to be fair, Apple's iPad is king of the tablet market and no other competitor has been able to touch it. The Kindle Fire has been the only tablet to cut into Apple's market share during the holiday season in 2011, where Amazon moved 4.7 million units and Apple moved 15.4 million units.

With this much competition, RIM is sinking and looking to layoffs for a partial answer. Some have even said that RIM may become a candidate for bankruptcy or a sale.

The estimates are probably right on the mark. It's hard to hide these things, HR has to prepare and you cant prepare for 2k job cuts without raising eyebrows. "Reports released last month indicated that RIM was looking to cut 2,000 jobs total during this time period. That is about 12 percent of RIM's 16,500 worldwide workforce"

On that note, wow, over 10% gone at once. That's a huge cut. It's almost as if they haven't released a phone that was up to par with the competition in over 5 years. Oh, wait. It's exactly like that.... sigh.

Where is Pirks to tell us how this isn't a problem and that we are all just anti RIM trolls?

No, your a fool for not knowing what that means. It's clear you dont work in a corporate environment, because you understand zero. If a company isnt looking to sell, the answer is a solid, definite "NO WE ARE NOT" looking to sell. If it's even mentioned at all it's a given. Face it poopy, you've been wrong on this since day 1. We all see it but you. You dont hire financial firms like that to go over your finances for any other reason than to sell.

Like I said, I don't want them to fail. My negative attitude toward RIM is because I am disappointed that a once big player is now a joke. Now we have less options and that isn't good for any of us.

Well, if you were a big shot like Thorsten then I'd believe you but you're not, hence it's just your opinion.

As for competition, MS made big comeback with Windows Phone today so no, even if RIM dies we consumers won't lose terribly, three big players on the phone OS market is good enough. I like what they were doing with Playbook, but MS Surface continues in the same vein, same cool gestures and stuff that Playbook has, so after two big announcements about Surface and WP8 I don't feel like I'm afraid of RIM dying anymore. I used to, before MS came up with replacements like Surface and WP8. No fear from me anymore, RIM now can die off and I won't be that much sad. I mean I will feel sad and sorry for all the poor RIM employees (not the rich execs tho), but that's it.